Bed with tilting headboard



July 26, 1960 R. R. HOPKINS 2,945,066

' BED WITH TILTING HEADBOARD Filed July 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 26, 1960 R. R. HOPKINS BED WITH TILTING HEADBOARD Filed July 1. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @0774 2 ap/(W5 aTTLT-ZMEY BED WITH TILTING HEADBOARD 7 Ruth R. Hopkins, 10315 Shoreham Court, San Jose, Calif.

Filed July 1, 1957, Ser. No. 669,116

9 Claims. (Cl. -327) This invention relates to a bed having a tilting headboard.

In bed construction there is a need for a headboard which can be tilted from its normal, vertical position to an inclined position serving as a back rest, as when the occupant is sitting up to read or to eat a meal. There is also a need for an arm rest when the occupant is sitting up in bed. Back rests and arm rests have been provided heretofore in the form of structures which are separate from the bed. Obviously these are unsatisfactory solutions of the problem, because they require extra equipment which must be stored when not in use and which is bulky and cumbersome when in use.

Such features (a tilting back rest and arm rests) may be built into a bed but should be of a design such that, when not in use, they are concealed and out of the way. They should be easily manipulated, and should not greatly increase the cost of manufacturing beds.

Heretofore, to my knowledge, there has not been provided a bed construction providing a tilting back support 7 and arm rests which are easily manipulated from a normal position in which the headboard is vertical and the arm rests are concealed and out of the way, to an operating position in which a tilting back rest and arm rests are provided.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements upon bed construction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bed construction in which a novel and improved tilting back rest is provided.

It is a further object of the invention to provide bed construction which includes arm rests that can be easily manipulated from a normal, concealed position to an operating position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a headboard for a bed which incorporates in its construction a built-in, tilting back rest and built-in, rotating arm rests which can be easily manipulated from a normal, concealed, nonoperating position to a second position suited for use.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims. I

One form of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the headboard of my invention, showing a portion of the bedframe.

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 22 of Figure 1, but on a larger scale, showing the manner in which the tilting back rest .portionof the headboard is mounted and operated.

Figure 3 is aview similar to that shown in Figure 2, but showing the back rest in its normal, vertical position.

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1 but on a larger scale than Figure 1, showing the manner of mounting the arm rests.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of a bed fitted with the headboard of my invention and showing the manner in which the tilted back rest and arm rests are used. 1

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1, a bed incorporating the headboard of my invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and it is shown in its entirety in Figure 5. The headboard is designated generally by the reference numeral 11. As will be seen in Figure 1, the bed frame is generally designated by the reference numeral 12 and it comprises end rails 13 and side rails 14, the latter being connected to and elevated above the end rails by means of legs or posts 15. frame is of angle construction. In the form shown in Figure 1, two bed frames are employed because the bed is a double twin bed. Also each of the frames is hinged to the head board at 16. However, other types of bed frame may be employed. Also the headboard construction of the invention is applicable to single beds as well as double beds.

The headboard 11 comprises a framework which is formed by vertical posts 20, a top rail 21, a lower rail 22 and a vertical member 23 which extends between the rails 21 and 22. A second or bottom horizontal frame member is provided at 24 which is located beneath and is spaced from the member 22. The framework thus described and illustrated will generally be of wood construction although metal or other suitable materials may be employed. It will also be apparent that, in the case of a single bed, the short vertical frame member 23 will extend downwardly to the floor and will serve as one of the legs of the headboard.

Referring now more particularly to Figures '2 and 3, it will be seen that the framework thus illustrated and described'provides a large recess or cavity 25 which is covered and concealed by a tilting back rest which is generally designated by the reference numeral 26; As'

will be seen the tilting back rest 26 has a normal vertical position which is shown in Figure 3 but it can be moved to a tilted position to serve as a back rest for a person who is sitting up in bed. This feature is shown in Figures 2 and 5.

For the purpose of operating the tilting back rest 26 and for supporting it in tilted position, there is provided an operating member or crank 28. As will also be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the horizontal frame member 22 is drilled through to provide a passageway 29 within which are located a pair of grip neck caster sockets 30,

thus providing a bearing for mounting the crank 28.

The crank 28 has a vertical segment 35 which is received in the sockets 30 and a tail or handle portion 36 which is conveniently in a horizontal or nearly horizontal position as shown in Figure 2. Above the frame member 22 the crank 28 is formed with an upwardly slantingportion 37 and is turned back at 38 'to form a tail or end portion 39.

It will. be apparent from an inspection of Figures? and 3 that the tilting back rest 26 can be operated very (shown in Figure 3).

as a cam to tilt the back rest to the position shown in Figure 2. Moreover, the crank 28 is left'in the position shown in Figure 2 and it will then support the back rest in tilted position. When it is desired to restore the tilting back rest 26 to its normal vertical position, the handle portion 36 is turned back to the position shown in Figure 3, and the back rest will drop by' gravity to the position shown in Figure 3.

As will be seen the back rest 26 is formed of a basef.

Federated July 25, 1960 As will be seen the bed' member 40 which may be of plywood, plastic or other suitable material and is of a length (see Figure 1) to overlap the vertical frame members 20 and 23 and of a height (see- Figure 3) to overlap the horizontal frame members 21 and 22. The back rest 26, therefore, when in its normal position, conceals the interior construction of the headboard and the opening 25. Therefore the headboard 11 has the appearance of a conventional headboard except when. used as a back rest. Preferably also, a cover and pad is provided as shown at 41.

It will, therefore, be apparent that a tilting back rest has been provided which is. simple in its design and operation, which is easily manipulated to a tilting position as shown in Figure 2 for comfort while a person is sitting up in bed and is easily restored to its normal, vertical position in which it conceals the operating mechanism and other components associated therewith.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 4, arm rests are shown at 44. As indicated they may be of wood construction and rectangular in cross section, although other materials of construction and other shapes may be employed. Each of the arm rests is preferably covered with a suitable covering material and padding indicated at 4.4a.

As will be seen, the horizontal frame member 22 above each of the arm rests 44 is drilled through at 45 and the horizontal frame member 24 beneath the arm rests is drilled to form a socket 46. A pivot rod or shaft 47 is located in the passageway 45 and socket 46. Each of the arm rests is drilled through at 48 with widened, socket portions at 48a. The rod 47 extends through the passage 48 and a grip neck caster socket is located in each of the sockets 48a, to serve as bearings for the arm rest 44.

As will be seen from an inspection of Figures 1 and 4, a small recess or cavity is provided at 50 between the two horizontal frame members 22 and 24. This cavity receives the arm rests 44 when they are in their retracted positions as shown in solid lines in Figure 1. Thus, normally the arm rests are out of the way and, although they are not entirely concealed, they do not detract from the appearance of the headboard. When it is desired to use them as arm rests in the manner indicated in Figure 5, it is a simple matter to rotate them to the positions shown in broken lines in Figure 4 and also .shown in Figure 5.

It should also be noted that the back of the headboard 11 may be covered with plywood, cloth, composition board or the like.

It will, therefore, be apparent that a headboard construction for a bed has been provided which, in normal use, serves as a conventional headboard and has an attractive appearance with no obstructing elements to interfere with its normal use. This headboard is readily adjusted to provide, a tilting back rest and also arm rests. The ease of manipulations required to use these appurtenances will be apparent.

I claim:

1. A headboard of the character described comprising a frame having upper and lower, spaced horizontal. frame members, a back rest hinged along its upper edge to said upper member and normally assuming a vertical position with its lower edge adjacent said lower member, and a crank member for swinging said head rest from its normal, vertical position to an inclined position, said crank member being journaled in said lower frame member and servingalso-to support the head rest in' its inclined position.

2. A headboard of the character described comprising having a handle portion accessible beneath said lower frame member and a cam portion above said lower frame member for acting on said back rest to swing it to tilted position and hold it in such position.

3. A headboard of the character described comprising a frame including a pair of spaced, vertical frame members and a pair of spaced, horizontal frame members, said frame members providing a frame having a central opening, a back rest covering said opening, said back rest being hinged to the upper member of said pair of horizontal frame members whereby it will normally assume a vertical position covering said opening but is capable of pivoting to an inclined position to serve as a back rest, and means carried by the bottom member of said pair of horizontal frame members for pivoting said back rest and for supporting it in inclined position.

4. A headboard of the character described comprising a frame including a pair of spaced, vertical frame members and a pair of spaced, horizontal frame members, said frame members providing a frame having a central opening, a back rest covering said opening, said back rest being hinged to the upper member of said pair of horizontal frame members whereby it will normally assume a vertical position covering said opening but is capable of pivoting to an inclined position to serve as a back rest, and crank means carried by the bottom member of said pair of horizontal frame members for pivoting said back rest and for supporting it in inclined position.

5. A headboard of the character described comprising a frame including a pair of spaced, vertical frame members and a pair of spaced, horizontal frame members, said frame members providing a frame having a central opening, a back rest covering said opening, said back rest being hinged to the upper member of said pair of horizontal frame members whereby it will normally assume a vertical position covering said opening but is capable of pivoting to an inclined position to serve as a back rest, and crank means carried by the bottom member of said pair of horizontal frame members for pivoting said back rest and for supporting it in inclined position, said crank means including a handle portion beneath said bottom member, a vertical portion journaled in said bottom member and a cam portion above 'said bottom member.

6. A headboard of the character described comprising a frame formed by spaced, vertical frame members and top, bottom and intermediate horizontal frame members, said top and intermediate members forming a large cavity and said intermediate and bottom members forming a small cavity, a back rest hinged to the upper member of the frame for pivoting between a normal vertical position in which the back rest serves to cover said large cavity and an inclined position adapted to serve as a back rest; said headboard also including a pair of arm rests pivotally supported on said frame within said small cavity for swinging in a horizontal plane between a retracted position within the small cavity and an extended position to serve as arm rests.

7. A headboard of the character described comprising a frame formed by spaced, vertical frame members, spaced top and bottom horizontal frame members and an intermediate horizontal frame member located above and near to but spaced from said bottom member; a back rest hinged to said top member for lying normally in vertical position to cover a major portion of said frame and for pivoting to an inclined position suited for a back rest, and means mounted on said intermediate member for pivoting said back rest and for supporting it in the inclined position; and a pair of arm rests pivotally supported between said intermediate and bottom members for swinging in a horizontal plane between a retracted position and an extended position, said arm rests in their retracted position being located within'the space between the intermediate and bottom members and in their extended position serving as arm rests.

8. A headboard of the character described comprising a frame formed by spaced, vertical frame members, spaced top and bottom horizontal frame members and an intermediate horizontal frame member located above and near to but spaced from said bottom member; a back rest hinged to said top member for lying normally in vertical position to cover the major portion of said frame and for pivoting to an inclined position suited for a back rest, and a crank member mounted on said intermediate member for pivoting said back rest and for supporting it in the inclined position; and a pair of arm rests pivotally supported by and between said intermediate and said bottom members for swinging in a horizontal plane between a retracted position and an extended position, said arm rests in their retracted position being located within the space between the intermediate and bottom members and in their extended 7 position serving as arm rests.

board structure having also a solid panel hinged to said upper horizontal frame member, said panel normally occupying a substantially vertical position in which it conceals said cavity and which serves when in normal vertical position as a conventional headboard panel, said panel beingrswingable to a tilted position to serve as an inclined back rest for a' person occupying a bed in sitting position; said headboard assembly also comprising con- 7 acting against the rear of said panel during such movement to tilt the panel and acting, when in said second position, to support the panel in tilted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 134,460 Brunner Dec. 31, 1872 2,105,336 Smith Jan. 11, 1938 2,534,300 Schorn Dec. 19, 1950 2,554,799 Sprunger May '29, 1951 2,709,817v Poyer June 7, 1955 2,710,412 Bayer June 14, 1955 

